3D ray-tracing simulation of X-ray laser amplification

A 3D ray-tracing code has been developed to simulate the x-rays (lambda = 1 39 Angstrom) produced in recent experiments where a silver target was drive n by two laser beams. The code is used as a post-processor of the detailed kinetics code LASIX which provides emissivities and opacities for inverted transitions. The hydrodynamics of the plasma is calculated with the 1D1/2 C HIVAS code, where transverse profiles of temperatures and density follow a self-similar solution. Our 3D rays tracing code accounts for progressive ta rget illumination and calculates the x-ray laser output by solving the eiko nal equation. Once 3D paths are determined a steady state transport solutio n is used to calculate the output intensity. The present 3D results are com pared with 2D calculations as well as with collected experimental data.